HUNTING THE HIPPOPOTAMI. 387 



however, got away down the river, and I lost her. The other 

 three took away up the river, and became very shy, remaining 

 under the water for five minutes at a time, and then only 

 popping their heads up for a few seconds. I accordingly re- 

 mained quiet behind the reeds, in hope of their dismissing 

 their alarms. Presently the two smaller ones seemed to be 

 no longer frightened, popping up their entire heads, and re- 

 maining above water for a minute at a time ; but the third, 

 which was by far the largest, and which I thought must be a 

 bull continued extremely shy, remaining under the water for 

 ten minutes at a time, and then just showing her face for a 

 second, making a blowing like a whale, and returning to the 

 bottom. I stood there with rifle at my shoulder, and my 

 eye on the sight, until I was quite tired. I thought I should 

 never get a chance at her, and had just resolved to fire at one 

 of the smaller ones, when she shoved up half her head and 

 looked about her. I made a correct shot ; the ball cracked 

 loudly below her ear, and the huge body of the sea-cow came 

 floundering to the top. I was enchanted; she could not 

 escape. Though not dead she had lost her senses, and con- 

 tinued swimming round and round, sometimes beneath and 

 sometimes at the surface of the water, creating a fearful 

 commotion. 



" Hearing my wagons coming on, I sent a message to my 

 followers to outspan, and to come and behold Behemoth 

 floundering in her native element. When they came up I 

 finished her with a shot in the neck, upon which she instantly 

 sank to the bottom, and disappeared in the strong rapid tor- 

 rent at the tail of the sea-cow hole. There she remained for 

 a long time, and I thought I had lost her, but the natives 

 said that she would soon reappear. Being in want of refresh- 

 ment, I left my people to watch for the resurrection of Behe- 

 moth, and I held to the wagons to feed. While taking my 

 breakfast there was a loud hue-and-cry among the natives, 

 that the koodoo had floated and was sailing down the river. It 



